Morgan Hawk

As printed in 1903

MORGAN HAWK.

Having put aside farm work Morgan Hawk is now living a retired life, making his home in the town of Delta, where he is widely and favorably known. He was born in Union county, Ohio, July 4,

1838, and comes of an old Virginia family. His father, Jacob Hawk, was born in Hardy comity, Virginia, and there spent the days of his boyhood and youth, but in early manhood he left the Old Dominion and in 1830 traveled westward to Knox county Ohio. There he located and after a time removed to Union county, that state, where he remained until 1854. In the latter year he determined to establish a home beyond the Mississippi, attracted by the possibilities of this great and rapidly developing section of the country. Making his way to Iowa he settled in Warren township, Keokuk county, where he purchased a farm of two hundred and ninety acres of partially improved land. He was married in Virginia to Sedeen Real, a native of the Old Dominion, where she remained until her marriage. They became the parents of ten children, seven sons and three daughters: Eunice B., Martin; Dolly, who died in infancy; Isaac; William and John, deceased; Anthony, Sarah, Morgan, and Vanson. The father of this family remained upon the old home farm in Warren township until his death, which occurred in 1878, when he was eighty-four years of age. He was a life-long Democrat and was a member of the Baptist church. In whatever community he resided he was known for his sterling worth, his fidelity and many principles and his devotion to truth and the right.

Morgan Hawk was the sixth son and ninth child in his father's family. Under the parental roof he spent the days of his childhood, and with his parents came to Iowa when fifteen years of age, remaining with them until they were called to their final rest. He afterward became the owner of the old homestead, which remained in his possession until 1 90 1. He has resided in Delta since 1899. He bought a lot here and built his present home. Throughout the years of his business life he carried on agricultural pursuits, his training at this work in youth having brought him practical experience which well fitted him to take charge of the farm on attaining manhood. He followed progressive methods, keeping in touch with the advancement of the times, and everything about the place was indicative of the careful and enterprising spirit of the owner, whose efforts at farm work were crowned with a high degree of success which now enables him to put aside business cares and rest in the enjoyment of the fruits of his former toil.

Mr. Hawk was married in Warren township to Miss Sarah Jane Scott, a native of Indiana and a daughter of John Scott, who was born in Kentucky and became one of the pioneer settlers of Keokuk county, Iowa, arriving here in the year 1844. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Hawk has been blessed with ten children, four sons and six daughters, as follows: John, Edward, Mary, Lacey, Amanda, the wife of Lee Dawson; Clara, the wife of Wesley Snider; William; Delia, the wife of Virgil Bell; Gertrude, the wife of John S. Scoonover; and Jessie, deceased. All of these children were born on the old family homestead and with the exception of three, all of the living are yet residents of Warren township, and those three reside in neighboring townships, so that the surviving members of the family are all near to their parents. Mr. Hawk has ever devoted his political work to the support of the Democracy and has kept well informed on the issues of the day, so that he has been enabled to support his position by intelligent argument. Both he and his wife are faithful and devoted members of the Christian church, are well known in the community where they make their home and are highly respected by reason of their many excellent qualities of heart and mind. They have long traveled life's journey together and have many friends.

genealogical and biographical history. 211 chauncy richmond.

Chauncy Richmond, who is now living a retired life in Webster, but for many years was actively associated with farming interests in Keokuk county, was born in Loraine county, Ohio, February 12, 1818. His father, Amos Richmond, was a native of New York and was of English parentage. He spent the days of his youth in the Empire state, acquired his education in its public schools and remained with his parents until he had attained early manhood. He served his country throughout the war of 1812 and when a young man left the Empire state and removed westward to Ohio, settling in Loraine county, where he carried on the work of tilling the soil. He was married in that county to Miss Alvira Bronson, a native of Connecticut, where she was reared and educated. They were the parents of eight children, five sons and three daughters.

Chauncy Richmond is the eldest son and now the only surviving member of the family. He spent his early childhood in the county of his nativity and is indebted to its public school system for the educational privileges he enjoyed. He remained at home until fifteen years of age and then went to Cleveland, Ohio, where he became connected with the tanning business, which he followed there for three years. He next became a sailor upon Lake Erie, and after a year spent in that way he left Cleveland, removing to Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, where he secured a position as a watchman on the steamboat Favorite, on which vessel he made the trip from Pittsburg down the Ohio and Mississippi rivers to New Orleans and thence across the gulf of Mexico to Mobile, Alabama. He remained upon the Favorite throughout the winter, but in the spring returned to New Orleans and thence made his way up the Mississippi river to St. Louis, Missouri. From there he went to Louisville, Kentucky, and ran on a boat from that city to Pittsburg, remaining in that position for about a year. Leaving the boat at Louisville, he proceeded to St. Louis and from there went up the river to Warsaw, Illinois, where he engaged in farming, remaining there for about three years.

During that period Mr. Richmond was married on the 27th of February, 1841, in Carthage, Hancock county, Illinois, the lady of his choice being Miss Elizabeth Marsh, a daughter of Benjamin Frankhn Marsh, a native of Vermont, and a sister of Colonel B. F. Marsh, who was a soldier of the Civil war and has since been prominent in politics in Illinois. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Richmond has been blessed with eight children, four sons and four daughters, of whom three sons and three daughters are yet living. The family record is as follows; Benjamin F.; Charles Amos, now deceased; Sophia R., who died in infancy; Charlotte A., the wife of Bacon Holmes, of Smith county, Kansas; Elvira R., the wife of Delbert Hoyt, a retired farmer living in Webster; Arthur M.; Alice B., the wife of Joseph Herrick, of German township, Keokuk county; and George H., who complete the family.

After his marriage Mr. Richmond left Illinois and went to LaGrange county, Indiana, where he settled upon a farm which he had bought, all of which was then raw land, but he made excellent improvements upon it and transformed it into an excellent property. All of the children were born upon that farm. In 1865 Mr. Richmond removed with his family to Iowa, settling in English River township, Keokuk county, near Webster. He secured one hundred and sixty acres of improved land and continued its further cultivation and improvement until 1891, when he put aside the work of the fields and removed to Webster, where he built a house in which he is now living in the enjoyment of a well earned rest. He was energetic and active in the prosecution of his work, reliable in his business transactions and of strong purpose, and those qualities brought to him a competence which now supplies him with all the comforts and many of the luxuries of life.

From its organization Mr. Richmond has been identified with the Republican party, and his study of the political issues of the day and the attitude of the parties concerning public questions has never caused him to want to change his political allegiance. He and his wife have long been Congregationalists in religious faith and their membership is now with the church of that denomination in Webster. They are both highly respected residents of the town, well worthy of representation among the valued citizens of their adopted county.

As printed in A genealogical and biographical history of Keokuk County, Iowa .. (1903). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.